Keep Calm

January 17, 2010

As you can probably imagine, writing a book is not easy in anyway whatsoever.

Last week, at 6:15 in the morning, I basically had a mental breakdown. I just sobbed and sobbed while sitting at my laptop. I wasn’t even frustrated with my writer’s block or being thousands of words behind schedule. I just felt totally defeated trying to juggle so many jobs while writing a book at the same time. It’s just too much.

Anyway, the point of my story wasn’t to be totally depressing, but instead to share how wonderful my readers (and my sister) are to me, especially when I need it the most.

Last week, one of my blog readers sent me a link to the most adorable print, which immediately cheered me up and help me put things in perspective.

Doesn’t it just say it all?!?

Yesterday, my sister gave this print to me as a gift, and, of course, it put the biggest smile on my face. I put it behind my laptop as a constant reminder to “Keep Calm and Love Pugs” while writing this book– word by word, one day at a time, and with lots of hugs for Murphy. 😉

Snack

I was super snack-y this afternoon– probably because my lunch wasn’t very substantial. 😕 Even still, I listened to my body and ate when it said it was hungry.

Dinner

We didn’t have all of the ingredients that the recipe called for, so I made a number of modifications, including using brown rice instead of couscous, replacing the scallions with diced yellow onions, and omitting the flat-leaf parsley. I think my version came out pretty great! 😀

While cooking, I sipped on a small glass of white wine.

What a delicious meal! 😀 The beans were easily the best part with tons of lemony-garlic flavor. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

For dessert, I whipped-up my favorite treat: Sandwich Thin + peanut butter + chocolate and peanut butter chips. I think a second one of these babies is in my future tonight. 😉

My plan for the rest of the evening is to do a little writing then watch a movie with M & M. I need some vegging out in my life!

Hi Tina!
I discovered your blog a few days ago and I am already addicted! So much information and recipes! I share your interest in healthy eating and exercising so I can’t wait to see what your “Lose the Dough” challenge looks like. Have a nice day!

Thanks for being so honest. You do have loads going on in your world right now and deadlines can be hard to deal with sometimes. The “Keep Calm” poster is spot on! “One day at a time” is a great motto, however sometimes it needs to be “One minute at a time!” Here is another “Be where your feet are.” Staying in the moment helps ground us and keep us focused on what is truly important.

Hang in there! Yes, juggling and stress can lead to momentary breakdowns (and monumental fights with the hubby in my case). You’ll finish the book, you’ll have rewrites, you’ll think of even better material in the meantime. Take a breakdown moment – I think they’re good for us.

Sometimes all you need is a little chat with the right person when your feeling overwhelmed–I can’t imagine all you do in one day, but I sure give you props for it & I know you can handle it! Keep your head up and keep up the awesome work–can’t wait to read your book!

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